The Ritual

This book is full of secrets, fun times, and murd€r. The main plot is The LORDS, which is a secret society. There were so many details that went into this story and yet somehow Shantel found a way for it not to be boring or them to drag on. I think it’s in the way that she did it by only releasing small bits of information at a time. But even still, at the end I’m left wanting more of Ryat and Blake before their 18 year later epilogue. Blakely gets thrust into Ryats life and she thinks that he is the one choice she has made for herself, so she jumps in head first. Slowly she learns different truths, and when things get to be too much she’s not sure who she can trust anymore. Ryat devoted his life to the LORDS and long time ago. He does whatever they ask and never asks questions because he knows you never get answers. But he wasn’t expecting to become obsessed with Blakely. Honestly, I love this book and I love this couple. I wish that Ryat would’ve been more open and honest with Blakely sooner, but I understand that that was just not who he was as a person. He was devoted to the LORDS, and he only wanted to keep and protect her. I love how much he loved and accepted her, even before he actually realized it himself. He catered to all of her desires, and never once judged her or made her talk about them, because he knew that she was embarrassed and self conscious about it. He knew what she wanted and craved and he gave her that. With all of that being said, this book could be rather hard for some people to read as it contains some dark themed kinks, and sexual situations. It also includes some dark themes in general. Please, please check the trigger warnings before reading to prepare you before hand.

Another book that I am asking myself why? Why did I wait so long to read this? I NEEDED this book, I have been in my fantasy era for so long, that I was starting to get bored again and this book woke me right up and got me out of an impending reading slump. So let’s get in to It: “I Vow, You Vow, We Vow” As always, this review will be as spoiler free as possible, there may be some personal thoughts on parts of the book near the end of my review that could contain some spoilers however but I will warn you beforehand so you have time to turn back. Tropes ❤️ ⛓️college romance ⛓️secret society ⛓️forced proximity ⛓️arranged marriage ⛓️touch her & ☠️ This book has me legit questioning my sanity. We start off learning about the secret society that the mmc is a part of, “The Lords”. Then we learn about the college that this secret society pretty much owns, Barrington University, where all the rich kids end up as it is a private institution. Enter the fmc, Blakely, a rich girl who did not want to go to this university but was forced to by her parents. And in this world, as they are all “the elite”, arranged marriages are common and Blake is already promised to another and so is our mmc. But there are no contracts that are legally binding, so yeah. lol, from there, you can pretty much guess what happens. But it is a wild ride, that I was loving the entire time. Now there may be possible spoilers below, you have been warned. What I liked about the book: - The spice, it was def spicy 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5 imo - The character development of both Ryat and Blake. Ryat was just a stubborn individual who was stuck in his ways and was harsh sometimes and did not believe in love what so ever. But eventually he gets “softer”, he is still him, just softer. And Blake in turn gets stronger from everything she endures with Ryat and I love that for her. - The suspense, there was A LOT and I was constantly gasping and screaming and was on the edge of my seat the entire time. The suspense is definitely intense. - The overall story. I love when a dark romance also has an amazing plot and this book delivered just that. I loved the store in between the spicy scenes. It kept me even more invested in the book. What I didn’t like: - The amount of times Blake was drugged, like how is she even still functioning at this point? - The accidental pregnancy trope 🤮 I could understand if they just talked about them having babies in the epilogue, but why did she have to get pregnant during a super intense finale? It was just an ick for me. Both of these dislikes though did not change my final rating, as everything else was so good, that those 2 minor things did not affect my overall thoughts on the book. This book will probably be a re-read every single year. Read this book if you want to read a dark romance, with a secret society, an amazing plot, excellent character development, and relatable characters. Happy Reading :)

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 This is my first encounter with the talented Shantel Tessier, and let me just say, "Wow!" "The Ritual (L.O.R.D.S. #1)" took me on a rollercoaster of emotions that I wasn't prepared for, but boy, am I glad I took the ride. From the very beginning, Tessier warns readers of trigger warnings, and trust me, they are there for a reason. This book is a captivating exploration of the dark side, filled with suspense that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Even though I thought I knew what I was getting into, the author constantly threw curveballs, leaving me in a state of perpetual surprise. Barrington University sets the stage for the Lords, a secret society whose power knows no bounds. The narrative is centered around the protagonist's life being meticulously planned until Ryat Alexander Archer presents her with a tantalizing option—freedom. Little did she know, it was just another manipulation by the Lords. The suspense in this book is like a maze, and just when you think you've figured it out, Tessier leads you down a different path. The author weaves a tale of deception, power, and survival that had me hooked from start to finish. The darkness within the Lords' world is palpable, and the characters are so intricately crafted that you can't help but be invested in their fates. Despite the unsettling themes, I couldn't put this book down. Tessier's writing style is gripping, and she skillfully navigates the fine line between suspense and discomfort. It's a testament to her storytelling prowess that she can make you question everything and still keep you hungry for more. In conclusion, "The Ritual" is an intense and thrilling journey into the shadows of power, manipulation, and survival. Shantel Tessier has created a masterpiece that left me yearning for more, and I can confidently say she has gained a new fan. This book is not for the faint of heart, but if you crave a story that challenges your expectations and keeps you guessing until the very end, dive into "The Ritual." I'm eagerly anticipating more from this incredible author in the near future.

Ryat e Blake são imperfeitos e perfeito ls juntos. Tem tanto coisa acontecendo que você fica igual Blake se perguntando se alguma tido isso é real ou um jogo. A luta deles para ficar junto é bonita e o livro te prende. Só tenho uma coisa a reclamar, apesar de amar h0ts esse livro tem demais, não tem necessidade de tanto um pouquinho menos deixaria o livro mais interessante., mas não tirei nenhuma estrelinha porque isso é questão de gosto e não tem nada a ver com a escrita e o enredo.

Amazing book. Everything was perfect!!

I started this book with not Much hope but the book didn’t disappoint😭❤️ the hooks, the characters everything is amazing

Dark and mysterious just the way I like it. Read TW before you start reading as it is quite rough and spicy.